After having read Karen Armstrong's book, I feel like I really understand who Muhammad was and the true essence of islam: an inclusive and pluralistic religion that is emblematic of justice, fighting for the marginalized, and serving the needy. Karen Armstrong, author, scholar, and journalist, is among the world's foremost commentators on religious history and culture. If you want to understand the Quran, you need to know this story. Really interesting. To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number. But she’s wrong to suggest that he didn’t reinstate religious violence, as a military general. Currently reading this book. It succeeds because [Armstrong] brings Muhammad to life as a fully rounded human being. Previous page of related Sponsored Products. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 15, 2018. Karen Armstrong's immaculately researched new biography of Muhammad will enable readers to understand the true origins and spirituality of a faith that is all too often misrepresented as cruel, intolerant, and inherently violent. To glimpse how the vast majority of the world’s Muslims understand their prophet and their faith, Karen Armstrong’s short biography is a good place to start. Muhammad : a prophet for our time. So far it is very insightful and teaches you about our Prophet Muhammad (SAW) way of life and the challenges he faced. Abbot George Burke (Swami Nirmalananda Giri). Learn more about Armstrong’s life … KAREN ARMSTRONG: Muhammad had never heard about the experiences of the great Hebrew prophets of the 8th, 7th, and 6th centuries B.C.E. Even the most stubborn skeptic of the supernatural would find it hard to disagree that Muhammad was a much better man than the times he lived in. [Karen Armstrong] -- Muhammad was born in 570 CE, and over the following sixty years built a thriving spiritual community, laying the foundations of a religion that changed the course of world history. Please try again. The prophet was a feminist, a military hero, an amazing lover, the perfect man. Get this from a library! Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! HarperOne; Reprint edition (August 28, 2007). Important to understand the life and times of a transformative historical figure of religious note as well. Buy 2, save 50% on 1. Five star rating is for the sellers of the book. Please try again. Karen Armstrong was concerned enough to write a book about the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to clarify some of the most controversial and debatable issues about him and Islam a whole. A beautiful, well written account of The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2019, This is very well written and so easy to follow along with. Sadly enough, the author is forced to start this substantive work with an overview of the distorted ideas and hate-filled images of Muhammad (570 - 632) promulgated in … The Man Who Inspired the World's Fastest-Growing Religion. A nicely written book, but don't let it be the only biography of Muhammad you read. Really interesting. Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2017. But don't have the time or patience for a 400-page book? The Muhammad it projects gave his followers "a mission: to create a just and decent society, in which all members were treated with respect." Muhammad's story is more relevant than ever because it offers crucial insight into the true origins of an increasingly radicalized Islam. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2021, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Something went wrong. Regardless of their political views, or their opinion of Muhammad, I don't think this book will change anyone's mind either way. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. The book is as good as any on the prophet, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 25, 2019. I also recommend "The Study Quran," edited by Nasr, as it has thoughtful line-by-line commentary, as well as essays on important topics. Short but useful. I was not wrong. Most people in the West know very little about the prophet Muhammad. Especially after the wake of September 11 and all the Islamophobic attitudes which increasingly started to break out in … The fact that, after declaring that Muslim men could have no more than four wives, Muhammad himself exceeded the limit? Unable to add item to List. He taught tolerance toward Jews and Christians. Please try your request again later. A former Roman Catholic religious sister, she went from a conservative to a more liberal and mystical Christian faith. It's teaches you lessons on dealing with challenges in life - it's actually similar to what we face today except it is 1500 years later. Moreover, Armstrong's Muhammad behaved justly and decently while he lived, though perhaps a bit according to the stringent standards of Arab culture at the time. Important to understand the life and times of a transformative historical figure of religious note as well. There was a problem loading your book clubs. It covers the foundation and basics of Islam and particularly of course of the Prophet Muhammad. Now in paperback, from the acclaimed author of "Holy War" and "A History of God," a fresh, evenhanded biography of the founder of Islam, the religion that continues to have a dramatic effect on the world today. Muhammad presents a fascinating portrait of the founder of a religion that continues to change the course of world history. She clearly wants to erase this major difference between Jesus and Muhammad. Even non Muslims. Karen Armstrong talked about her book [Muhammad: A Prophet for Our Time], published by HarperCollins in the [Eminent Lives] series. Please try again. Offered by Amazon.com. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. There are probably many more levels, but I feel it is a good start. Insightful View of The Beginnings of Islam, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 14, 2017. Please try again. The author portrays a very apologetic modern interpretation of the Prophet 's words and actions, however her perspective becomes predictably didactic and condescendingly biased toward that interpretation rather than engaging in any serious reflection. This biography of the Prophet Muhammad is well-written...an easy read. Publication date 2006 Topics A300 Collection opensource Language English. The main objective for all Karen Armstrong's books is to deny that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was a terrorist or a man of violence. Combining this biography with that commentary was great. She attended St Anne's College, Oxford, while in the convent and majored in English. Very good guide from a respected individual. The Upanishads for Awakening: A Practical Commentary on India’s Classical Scriptures, Islam Explained: A Short Introduction to History, Teachings, and Culture. Karen Armstrong has not written a page-turner with this biography of Muhammad - in fact, I brought it with me for a long plane-flight, figuring only total boredom would force me to read it. Muhammad: A Prophet for Our Time (Eminent Lives), Hardcover – Deckle Edge, October 17, 2006. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 1, 2019. A book by Karen Amstrong based on history of mankind. An acclaimed authority on religious and spiritual issues, Armstrong offers a balanced, in-depth portrait, revealing the man at the heart of Islam by dismantling centuries of misconceptions. Feeling that society was coming to an end and had no hope. If you want to understand the Quran, read the story of Muhammad's life, Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2020. On the CelebrateMercy webcast, Karen Armstrong, best-selling British author and founder of the Charter for Compassion, discusses compassion in the Quran. Now it is possible for me to understand multiple levels of the passages, both the worldly and spiritual. Karen Armstrong talked about her book Muhammad: A Prophet for Our Time, published by Harper Collins in the Eminent Lives series. It covers the foundation and basics of Islam and particularly of course of the Prophet Muhammad. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. The author's understanding of Arabic is imperfect at best, which is not a trivial matter considering her reliance on many supposed "original" meanings for Arabic words that she contends have become distorted in the West. Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2018. The author's understanding of Arabic is imperfect at best, which is not a trivial matter considering her reliance on many supposed "original" meanings for Arabic words that she contends have become distorted in the West.